"of the election on 24 January 2008. Turnout in the election was placed at 96.89%, with 8,231,365 voters participating; 95.24% of the votes cast (7,839,358) were valid. 91% of voters (7,125,752) cast a united ballot for all candidates, while 9% (713,606) chose to vote only for certain candidates. Of the invalid votes, 3.73% (306,791) were blank and 1.04% (85,216) were spoiled. The newly elected Assembly met for the first time on 24 February. Raúl Castro was re-elected from the 2nd Eastern Front with 99.37% of the vote and Fidel Castro was re-elected from the 7th District of Santiago de Cuba"
"President of Cuba in July 2006, he served as the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces from 1959 to 2008. His ministerial tenure made him the longest serving minister of the armed forces. Because of his predecessor's illness, Castro was designated the President of the Council of State in a temporary transfer of power. Castro was officially made President by the National Assembly on 24 February 2008, after Fidel Castro, who was still ailing, announced on 19 February 2008 that he would not stand for President again. Castro was re-elected President on 24 February 2013. Shortly thereafter, Castro announced that his"
"as a tireless defender of the poor and oppressed in Latin America and Africa, while standing up to US hegemony in the Americas, Fidel Castro's sworn enemies, namely the US and Cuban-Americans, saw him as a ruthless tyrant who broke his promise to restore democracy to Cuba by imposing a repressive communist government on the island that muzzled all opposition and wrecked the Cuban economy. On February 19, 2008 Fidel announced that he would not stand for re-election as President at the next meeting of the National Assembly of People's Power. Raúl was elected President by the National Assembly on"
"with his second wife Lis Cuesta. Miguel Díaz-Canel Miguel Mario Díaz-Canel Bermúdez (; born 20 April 1960) is a Cuban politician serving as the current President of Cuba. He was previously First Vice President from 2013 to 2018. He has been a member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of Cuba since 2003, and he served as Minister of Higher Education from 2009 to 2012; he was promoted to the post of Vice President of the Council of Ministers (deputy Prime Minister) in 2012. A year later, on 24 February 2013, he was elected as First Vice President of"
"Miguel Díaz-Canel Miguel Mario Díaz-Canel Bermúdez (; born 20 April 1960) is a Cuban politician serving as the current President of Cuba. He was previously First Vice President from 2013 to 2018. He has been a member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of Cuba since 2003, and he served as Minister of Higher Education from 2009 to 2012; he was promoted to the post of Vice President of the Council of Ministers (deputy Prime Minister) in 2012. A year later, on 24 February 2013, he was elected as First Vice President of the Council of State. He was"
"Raúl Castro, the Cuban president since 2008 and one of the leaders of the Cuban Revolution of the 1950s, declared in 2013 that ""a slow and orderly transfer of the leadership of the revolution to the new generations"" was already in progress. Castro has pledged not to seek reelection in 2018. In announcing the agreement in December 2014, Castro struck a balance between praising the Marxist revolution that brought him and his brother Fidel to power almost 60 years prior and extolling the benefits that would be brought about by improved relations with the United States, namely the end of"
"Communist Party of Cuba and the commander-in-chief of the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces. On 18 April 2018, Díaz-Canel was selected as the only candidate to succeed Castro as president. He was confirmed by a vote of the National Assembly on 19 April and sworn in on the same day. He is a party technocrat who was little-known to the public before becoming president. Policy experts expected him to pursue cautious reform of his predecessors' economic policies, while preserving the country's social structure. He is the first president born after the 1959 Cuban Revolution and the first since 1976 not to"
"the Communist Party of Cuba, and Commander-in-Chief of the Revolutionary Armed Forces. Fidel Castro ruled from 1959 to 2006 before illness forced him to hand power to his brother. Esteban Lazo Hernández is President of the National Assembly. Executive power is exercised by the government. Until February 2008, Cuba was led by President Fidel Castro, who was Chief of State, Head of Government, Prime Minister, First Secretary, and Commander in Chief of the Cuban armed forces. The Ministry of Interior is the principal organ of state security and control. According to the Cuban Constitution Article 94, the First Vice President"
"that I am not in a physical condition to offer"". On 24 February 2008, the National Assembly of People's Power unanimously voted Raúl as president. Describing his brother as ""not substitutable"", Raúl proposed that Fidel continue to be consulted on matters of great importance, a motion unanimously approved by the 597 National Assembly members. Following his retirement, Castro's health deteriorated; international press speculated that he had diverticulitis, but Cuba's government refused to corroborate this. He continued to interact with the Cuban people, published an opinion column titled ""Reflections"" in ""Granma"", used a Twitter account, and gave occasional public lectures. In"
"a United States military invasion of Cuba. While relations between Cuba and the United States remained tenuous, by the 2000s, they began to improve. Fidel Castro stepped down from official leadership of the Cuban state and Barack Obama became president of the United States. In April 2009, Obama, who had received nearly half of the Cuban Americans vote in the 2008 presidential election, began implementing a less strict policy towards Cuba. Obama stated that he was open to dialogue with Cuba, but that he would only lift the trade embargo if Cuba underwent political change. In March 2009, Obama signed"
"has been responsible for overseeing Cuba's international education programs. José Ramón Machado has been described as ""a hardline communist ideologue and old guard revolutionary."" On 10 January 2007, he represented Cuba at the inauguration of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega. Machado was elected by the National Assembly of People's Power as First Vice-President of the Council of State on 24 February 2008, at the same time as Raúl Castro's election as President; he received 601 out of 609 votes. José Ramón Machado Ventura José Ramón Machado Ventura, M.D. (born 26 October 1930) is a Cuban revolutionary and politician who was the"
"first vice president. He announced that day he would step down from power after his second term as president ends in 2018. In 2018, he was selected as a candidate for the National Assembly of People's Power by the Segundo Frente municipality in Santiago de Cuba, regarded as the cradle of the Cuban Revolution. Raúl Castro said in a 2008 interview: ""The American people are among our closest neighbors. We should respect each other. We have never held anything against the American people. Good relations would be mutually advantageous. Perhaps we cannot solve all of our problems, but we can"
"Period"", embracing environmentalist and anti-globalization ideas. In the 2000s, Castro forged alliances in the Latin American ""pink tide"" – namely with Hugo Chávez's Venezuela – and signed Cuba up to the Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas. In 2006, Castro transferred his responsibilities to Vice President Raúl Castro, who was elected to the presidency by the National Assembly in 2008. The longest-serving non-royal head of state in the 20th and 21st centuries, Castro polarized world opinion. His supporters view him as a champion of socialism and anti-imperialism whose revolutionary regime advanced economic and social justice while securing Cuba's independence from American"
"the presidency, but on 19 February Fidel Castro said that he would not seek another term because his physical condition would not allow him to properly carry out the duties of the office. Raúl Castro, aged 76, was elected as President of the Council of State and the Council of Ministers by a unanimous vote of the National Assembly (on a ballot with only his name for the position) on 24 February 2008. José Ramón Machado Ventura, at age 77, was elected as First Vice-President of the Council of State and the Council of Ministers, contrary to speculation that someone"
"Cuba. As of 2018 Miguel Díaz-Canel is now the president of Cuba. Executive power is exercised by the Government, which is represented by the Council of State and the Council of Ministers. Legislative power is exercised through the unicameral National Assembly of People's Power, which is constituted as the maximum authority of the state. With effect from 19 April 2018, Miguel Díaz-Canel is President of the Council of State and President of the Council of Ministers (sometimes referred to as the Prime Minister). The previous president, Raúl Castro — brother of former leader Fidel Castro — remains First Secretary of"
"death, Cuba's government announced that it would be passing a law prohibiting the naming of ""institutions, streets, parks or other public sites, or erecting busts, statues or other forms of tribute"" in honor of the late Cuban leader in keeping with his wishes to prevent a cult of personality from developing around him. Fidel Castro Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz (; 13 August 1926 – 25 November 2016) was a Cuban Communist revolutionary and politician who governed the Republic of Cuba as Prime Minister from 1959 to 1976 and then as President from 1976 to 2008. A Marxist–Leninist and Cuban nationalist,"
"assembly in January 2008 parliamentary election. However, in an interview with the CNN, Alarcón said he was unsure if Fidel would accept the post or not. Alarcón, in an interview on the topic on who would succeed Fidel Castro, said; ""All those who have been trying to fool the world and put out the idea that something terrible would happen in Cuba, that people would take to the streets, that there would be great instability, the door slammed on them and they must have very swollen hands now"". Alarcon was married to Margarita Perea Maza. She died on 9 February"
"Fidel Castro Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz (; 13 August 1926 – 25 November 2016) was a Cuban Communist revolutionary and politician who governed the Republic of Cuba as Prime Minister from 1959 to 1976 and then as President from 1976 to 2008. A Marxist–Leninist and Cuban nationalist, Castro also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from 1961 until 2011. Under his administration, Cuba became a one-party communist state, while industry and business were nationalized and state socialist reforms were implemented throughout society. Born in Birán, Oriente as the son of a wealthy Spanish farmer, Castro"
"deemed stable enough to allow a withdrawal of American troops, which was completed in February 1909. For three decades, the country was led by former War of Independence leaders, who after being elected did not serve more than two constitutional terms. The Cuban presidential succession was as follows: José Miguel Gómez (1908–1912); Mario García Menocal (1913–1920); Alfredo Zayas (1921–25) and Gerardo Machado (1925–1933). Under the Liberal Gómez the participation of Afro-Cubans in the political process was curtailed when the Partido Independiente de Color was outlawed and bloodily suppressed in 1912, as American troops reentered the country to protect the sugar"
"of the Council of State and President of the Council of Ministers. He retained the title until 2008, when the presidency was transferred to his brother, Raúl Castro, but retained his position of Party First Secretary until 2011. Fidel Castro's staunch belief in a communist ideology and his criticisms of other international figures elevated the prominence of his rule. He launched a wide range of economic and social changes, and also promoted a cult of personality around himself. Castro's Cuba became a key element within the Cold War struggle between the United States and its allies versus the Soviet Union"
"government overhauled salary structure of all state-run companies; so that, harder-working employees could be rewarded with higher wages. In addition, the government has removed restrictions against use of cell phones and is investigating removal of travel restrictions on Cubans. In March 2009, Raúl Castro dismissed some officials. In April 2011, Raúl announced a plan of 300 economic reforms encouraging private initiative, reducing state spending, encouraging foreign investment and agrarian reforms, as well as the limitation on presidential terms, including himself. On 24 February 2013, Cuba's parliament named Raúl Castro to a new five-year term as president and Miguel Díaz-Canel his"
"bleeding, and on 31 July 2006, delegated his presidential duties to Raúl Castro. In February 2007, Raúl announced that Fidel's health was improving and that he was taking part in important issues of government. Later that month, Fidel called into Hugo Chávez's radio show ""Aló Presidente"". On 21 April, Castro met Wu Guanzheng of the Chinese Communist Party's Politburo, with Chávez visiting in August, and Morales in September. That month, the Non-Aligned Movement held its 14th Summit in Havana, there agreeing to appoint Castro as the organisation's president for a year's term. Commenting on Castro's recovery, U.S. President George W."
"August 14, 1954, Batista made Dr. Domingo President of Cuba so that he could run for president. Once Batista was sworn in as president on February 24, 1955, Dr. Domingo resumed his ministerial positions. Dr. Domingo was to run for President of Cuba in the election of 1958. He never married. Andrés Domingo y Morales del Castillo Dr. Andrés Domingo y Morales del Castillo (4 September 1892 in Santiago de Cuba – 1 June 1979 in Miami, Florida United States) was a Cuban jurist, Senator (1944-1952), politician, government minister and interim President of Cuba. He was the son of Andrés"
"such as food and fuel shortages. The government did not accept American donations of food, medicines, and cash until 1993. On 5 August 1994, state security dispersed protesters in a spontaneous protest in Havana. Cuba has since found a new source of aid and support in the People's Republic of China. In addition, Hugo Chávez, former President of Venezuela, and Evo Morales, President of Bolivia, became allies and both countries are major oil and gas exporters. In 2003, the government arrested and imprisoned a large number of civil activists, a period known as the ""Black Spring"". In February 2008, Fidel"
"decade Castro made many changes to the Cuban economy. Castro reformed Cuban Socialism due to the withdrawal of the Soviet's backing. Subsequently, Cuba received aid from Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, in a period known as The Pink Tide era (2000-2006). On July 31, 2006 Castro passed his duties as the President of Cuba to his brother Raúl due to health reasons. Castro renounced his positions as President of the Council of State and Commander and Chief at the February 24 National Assembly meetings in a letter dated February 18, 2008. Castro considered Africa to be ""the weakest link in the"
"2008. Ricardo Alarcón Ricardo Alarcón de Quesada (born 21 May 1937) is a Cuban politician. He served as Cuba's Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) for nearly 30 years and later served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1992 to 1993. Subsequently, Alarcón was President of the National Assembly of People's Power from 1993 to 2013, and because of this post, was considered the third-most powerful figure in Cuba. He also was a Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba until 2013. A graduate of the University of Havana with a doctorate in philosophy, he"
"Cuba's president, Raúl Castro. Fidel Castro responded criticising those reports. Osmany Cienfuegos Osmany Cienfuegos Gorriarán (born February 4, 1931) is a Cuban politician and older brother of Camilo Cienfuegos. He served in various roles in the Cuban government. Cienfuegos was the only one of three brothers who attended the University of Havana, where he graduated as an architect in 1954. He joined the Popular Socialist Party (Partido Socialista Popular, PSP). He was exiled to Mexico in 1957, and remained there until 1959. After his brother's death, he was chosen to be the Minister of Construction in 1960. He was appointed"
"2018 Cuban parliamentary election Parliamentary elections were held in Cuba on 11 March 2018 to elect members of the National Assembly of People's Power, alongside provincial elections. Prior to the elections, President Raúl Castro declared he would not be seeking a new term, and a new President of the Council of State will be elected by the National Assembly. His deputy, Miguel Díaz-Canel, was subsequently elected as the new president. All Cuban citizens who are over the age of 18 years, and process full political rights for at least five years prior to the election are eligible to partake within"
"February 19, 2008, leaving his brother as the sole candidate for president. According to the constitution, Cuba is a socialist republic where all members or representative bodies of state power are elected and subject to recall and the masses control the activity of the state agencies, the deputies, delegates and officials. Elections in Cuba have two phases: Candidates for municipal assemblies are nominated on an individual basis at local levels by the local population at nomination assemblies. Candidates for provincial assemblies and the National Assembly are nominated by the municipal assemblies from lists compiled by national, provincial and municipal candidacy"
"Raúl Castro Raúl Modesto Castro Ruz (; born 3 June 1931) is a Cuban politician who is currently serving as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba, the most senior position in the socialist state, succeeding his brother Fidel Castro in April 2011. He has also been a member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of Cuba, the highest decision-making body since 1975. In February 2008, he was appointed the President of the Council of State and President of the Council of Ministers. He stepped down as President on 19 April 2018. Previous to being appointed acting"
"Salvador Valdés Mesa Salvador Valdés Mesa (born 13 June 1945) is a Cuban politician and former trade union leader. He is the First Vice President of Cuba since April 2018 and is a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of Cuba. He was elected to succeed Miguel Díaz-Canel as First Vice President of Cuba on 18 April 2018. Salvador Valdés was part of the Association of Young Rebels since 1961, after the triumph of the Cuban Revolution. He was a leader of the Workers' Central Union of Cuba and the Communist Party of Cuba. He served as"
"selected to succeed Raúl Castro as the candidate for President of the Council of State and the Council of Ministers on 18 April 2018, and sworn into office the following day after nationwide polling. His two predecessors in the role were brothers, by blood, and notably his succession from Raúl Castro represents a clearly non-dynastic form of succession for the Communist Party as well as the Republic of Cuba. Díaz-Canel is therefore the first president to not be a Castro family member since Osvaldo Dorticós only two premierships beforehand, and the third overall post-revolution, including Dorticós himself and also Manuel"
"as saying that he had come to visit a ""sister"" country and to share an ""open agenda"" with President Raul Castro. He also met leftist political icon and Cuban commander-in-chief Fidel Castro. The two leaders talked of the ""happy atmosphere"" as well as the ""complicated situation in Latin America."" His talks with Raul Castro focused on Cuba-Peru relations and the ""need"" to enhance education via Cuba's ""Yes I Can"" educational programme. In doing so he cited Cuba's success in contributing to the eradication of illiteracy in countries such as Venezuela, Nicaragua, Bolivia and Ecuador. His inauguration on 28 July was"